Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-12
HURRAH FOR HENNEPlN.
Secretary of War Endicott Reports
in Favor of 1t.
He is also Favorable TO the Rock ISL
y and Terminus--A Complete Report
Describing the Different Routes
New Hope for the Measure-Whas

New Hope for the Measure-What
Engineer Duane has to say
The Hennepin canal has probably been
saved by the administration. as Secretary |
Endicotts report which would naturally |
voice to a more or less extent the sentl- |
ments of the president, is unexpectedly
favorable to the measure Unexpectedly
favorable. because, while it was thought
the administration would favor project
so popular with the people, and a neees'
sity so apparent TO the commercial al
vantages of the country, 1t was not ex |
pected that the canal would receive such
strong and hearty endorsement as 1t does.
More than this, Secretary Endicott looks
upon the Rock Island route or terminus
as the most feasible. His report was sent
to the house of representatives yesterday
and the secretary. after abiding to the
board of engineers report, and the object
of appointing the board, continues:
This report has for its subject the gen
eral project of providing navigable
water way between Lake Michigan and the
Mississippiriver The project can be read
lily understood by dividing the distance
between Chicago and the Mississippi into
the several sections and considering each
separately.
/. From Chicago, BY the Illinois and
Michigan canal to LaSale, g From La
Sale, by the Illinois river. to Hennepin
and thence to the Mississippi river. 3.
By Hennepin. by the proposed Hennepin
canal to points on the Mississippi river
above Rock Island.
/. The state of Illinois. BY an act
passed in 1882, coded 10 the United States
the Illinois and Michigan canal, its right
of way and all lands and appurtenances
belonging thereto for canal purposes and
for the purpose of making and maintain
ing an enlarged canal and water way from
Lake Michigan to the Illinois and Missis>
sippi rivers, the same to be accepted by
the United States upon the express condi-
ton that the canal shall be enlarged in
such manner as congress shall determine
and be maintained as national water way
for commercial purposes. The Unitod
States upon accepting this act would be
bound TO enlarge and maintain the canal
as a national water way for commercial
purposes. The report of the board of en>
gineers shows that to enlarge the canal
BETWEEN JOLIET AND LAsALLE,
and to provide for an increased naviga>
ton equal to that contemplated by the
improvements in progress on the Illinois
river between Lasale and It's junction
with the Mississippi, would require an ex-
penditure of money greater thsn the cost
of improving the river itself betwee n
Joliet and Lasale Ii such is the case,
The river route should be improved as
recommended. The state of Illinois,
however, before acceptance BY the Uni
ted States, should relieve the United
States from the condition imposed by
the act to enlarge and maintain the canal
as it now exists as more suitable and
cheaper water way can be otherwise OBJ
tanned.
In this connection another question Is
suggested by the report Of the board OF
engineers, AT present the canal has its
terminus in the south branch of the Chi
cagO river about five miles from Lake
Michigan This branch runs through
the central business portion of Chicago,
and is crossed BY numerous draw bridg-
es. At present these bridges are a great
impediment to navigation and to the LAND
traffic of Chicago. Ii this river become:
the only outlet to the large commerce
that may follow the opening of this new
- hnt ha
sissippi river aud Lake Michigan anOthe
outlet for the canal will be necessary
and economy and convenience may de
mand another channel to the waters o.
Lake Michigan. As to the cost Of sucl
change should it become necessary w
have nc doubt knowledge, no prelim
mary surveys of the country with vie"
to the construction of new route to the
lake having been made The conclusion
therefore, would seem to be clear tia
the United States should not be bound t.
enlarge the existing canal between La
Sale and Joliet if the improvement o
the Illinois river between those place
will furnish cheaper mode of commu
nicatiOn, nor to maintain any portion o
the canal, the abandoning of which MAJ
become necessary or desirable in th
future. In that event the United State
should have full liberty to change tn
route
BETWEEN LAsALLE AND HENNEPIN.
2. Between LaSalle and Hendepiu th
Illinois river supplies satisfactory watel
way From Hennepin to the junction Q
the Illinois with the Mississippi the lock
and dams are now IN progress of con
struction to render it navigable A por
ton of these have been built and are no.
building by the United States But tn
improvement at Henry and COpperu
creek were made by the state of Illinois
which now exercises control aud collect
tolli on the commerce passing over thi
portion of the river agree with tn
board OF engineers that complete trans
fer of these improvements by tue state c
Illinois should accompany the cession G
the canal. The United States shoul
control the entire river and all the i'm
provements, rights, and privileges COZ
nected Herewith, and the obligations t
be assumed by the government should b
clearly defined before an acceptance ca
be considered advisable.
THE SECOND ROUTE.
8. From the Great Bend Fill where
turns in southerly direction the secon
artificial line of water communicable
has been projected. This line. whic
runs in general westerly direction fror
point on the Illinois river, at or nes
the town Of Hennepin. by the most prat
ticsble route to the Mississippi river. {
or above the city of Rock Island"
known as the Hennepin canal, surveys
which were authorized by act of congress
of Aug. 2, 1882 The proposed can
runs from Hennepin westerly abol
twenty-five miles to the summit of IL
level between the two rivers. From th
point three diverpinp lines have hep